Cooling system



W. W. MUIR COOLING SYSTEM Feb. 26, 1929.

Original Filed Nov. 28

@num/1to1,

@Hoz umg Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED ,STATES PATENT oFFicF..

WELLINGTON W. IUIR, 0F LOCKPORT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HARRISON RADIATORCORPORATION, OF LOCXPOBT, NEW YORK.

` COOLING SYSTEM'.

Original application led November 28, 1921, Serial No. 518,879. Dividedand this application med November 22, 1926. Serial No. 150,036.

This application is a division of my prior copending application SerialN o. 518,379, filed November 28, 1921.

The invention relates to a cooling system for internal combustionengines of the type wherein a fluid is employed, or more p articularlythe type in which the generation of steam and vapor and its condensationis employed in the cooling system..

The object of the present invention 1s the provision of means by whichthe steam generated in part of the cooling system 1s utilized forreturning the condensed fluid to the system.

A still further object is to provide an arrangement by which the coolingsystem may be operated at superatmospheric pressure.

Other objects and advantages of the in-l vention will be apparent fromthe description thereof.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, more or less diagrammatic, of oneembodiment of lthe present invention, parts being in elevation and partsbroken away;

Fi ure 2 is a vertical section through the auxiliary tank appearing atthe top of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 1indicates an internal combustion engine having the water jacket 2associated therewith, as is usual in such constructions. The waterjacket 2 is supplied with` water or other cooling fluid from the chamberor header 3 through the passage 4 which connects the header 3 with thelower portion of the water* jacket 2, the return of the water takingplace through a conduit or passaoe 5. As shown, the overflow opening oft e assage 5y is above the level 6 of the liquid in the upper chamber,but .the lconstruction may be otherwise.

In order to prevent the local formation of steam in undesirable ordangerous quantities in the jacket 2 of the engine, it is desirablethough not absolutely necessaryto provide power-operated means forcirculating the cooling fluid therethrough. Any suitable mechanism maybe employed for this purpose. As shown on the draw-ings, a pump 7located in the passage 4, is employed for this purpose and operated fromthe shaft 7 of the fan 7.

The chamber 3, passage 4, the water jacket 2 and the passage 5constitute what may be considered the main circulatory system. When thefree end of the pipe 5 is arranged to extend above the level of theliquid in the header 3 as shown in the drawin the main 'circulatorysystem may be consi ered as being a non-continuous or an interrupted oneand as a result of this construction, whether or not a pump be employed,there will be no circulation of the cooling fluid while the engine is atrest, consequently it will take a relatively long time to cool the waterwithin the jacket and the engine will remain warm for a comparativelylong period after it stops running.

Associated with the chamber 3 is a radiator, or radiator core orcondenser 10 of any suitable construction. This radiator may be locatedat any convenient point relative to the engine. As shown, it occupiesthe usual position in front of the engine.

It isr desirable that the radiator be so arranged that no liquidcirculates through it. Any suitable arrangement of mechanism may beemployed for this purpose.l One form of mechanism for accom lishing thiswithout the use of valves is s own on the drawing wherein the passage 11leading into the radiator has its upper end extending above the level ofthe liquid system. The lower end of the pipe 11 may be attached at anyconvenient point to the radiator, as at one end thereof. As shown, it isattached to the upper end of the radiator. This arrangement permits onlyvapor or steam to enter the radiator core. Moreover, this arrangementnot only permits the engine to auxiliary tank or chamber14 is mountedadjacent the chamber 3 and is connected to the header 12 by means of apipe or passage 13. This chamber 14 may be of any suitable construction.As shown, this chamber is formed of two cup-shaped stampings 20 and 21joined together and to the chamber- 3 by the fianges 22 in any suitableway.

The upper portion of the chamber 14 is provided with a valve support andguide 23 secured in the top of t e chamber. As shown, this support isprovided with an aperture or vent 24 in communication with theatmosphere. The valve support may, if desired, be provided with alateral extension 24' having an aperture therein in communication .withthe aperture or vent 24. By this arrangement the aperture or vent openslaterally into the air and dirt and dust is not quite so likely to enterand stop up the same. This extension may, of' course, be omitted ifdesired.

The lower portion of the chamber has an outlet passage 25, with a dumpvalve 26 preferably located above the level 6 of the liquid and alsopreferably of the normally closed type. The valve 26 may be providedwith suitable means, such as the counterweight 26 for normally seatingthe valve. Mounted within the chamber 14, as by means of the brackets26, is a float chamber 27 open at the top and provided near its bottomwith an opening or openings 28; and suspended in the float chamber inany suitable manner is a relatively large float, the construction ofwhich may be varied widely. In the form shown, it comprises thecylindrical body 30 and the heads 31 soldered or otherwise connectedthereto.

The chamber 14l is provided with a vent passage which may open into thechamber or header 3. As indicated in Figures 1 and 2, a passage orconduit 32 has one end secured in the Wall of the header or chamber andits other end extending into the chamber 14 is secured in the valvesupport in communication with the aperture 32. In the form shown, theapertures 24 and 32 are in vertical alignment and are adapted to bealternately opened and closed by a double valve 35, but here again theconstruction may be varied, that shown being preferred largely becauseof its low cost. The valve is operated from the iioat in any suitablemanner. As shown, the valve has an elongated slot 37 for receiving thebail 36, which extends through the slot 45 of the valve guide 23.

The pipe or passage 11, radiator core 10, the lower radiator chamber orheader 12,

ber 14 constitutes what might be termed the auxiliary circulatorysystem. The main circulatory system and the auxiliary system ,may betogether considered as constituting ,pipe or passage 13, and theauxiliary cham- 1n the main circulatory system becomes Y hea-ted well.toward the boiling point-in other words, the engine on starting isbrought quickly to a temperature which gives efficient operation.Thereafter, the vapor and steam escaping into the chamber 3 finds itsway through the passage 11 into the passages of' the core 10 where it isquickly condensed. Under these conditions the dump valve 26 is closedand there is little or no liquid in the auxiliary tank or chamber 14,therefore the float is at its lower limit of movement and the chamber 14is in communication with the atmosphere through the vent or aperture 24,thus permitting the escape of air entrapped in the systemor given up bythe liquid when it is hea-ted. The condensed Huid soon seals the lowerend of the pipe or passage 13 and then when the pressure of the steam inthe radiator becomes sufiicient it will force the condensed fluid in theheader 12 through the passage 13 into the space surrounding the floatchamber 27 which it finally overtops, but before this latter takesplace, a sufiicient quantity of liquid will have entered ,the floatchamber through the openings 28 to largely overcome the' displacement ofthe Hoat from which it follows that when the liquid overflows the upperedge of the valve chamber it will cause the float to rise rapidly toefl'ect a very prompt and positiveJ shifting of the valve. The shiftingof the valve 35 will close the vent 24 and open the passage 32 and thepressure in the auxiliary chamber 14 and the chamber or header 3becoming equalized the liquid in the passage or pipe 13 will cease toflow into the auxiliary chamber 14 and the liquid therein will bedischarged through the outlet passage 25 into the header 3. Thisoperation will be repeated indefinitely in accordance with the vrate ofsteam formation. f

The foregoing arrangement therefore provides a system by which steampressure generated in one part of the system is utilized to transfercondensed liquid from one part of the system to another. Also thearrangement provides a system which operates at superatmosphericpressure as the pressure of the steam in the chamber 3 must exceed thatof the atmosphere in order that the liquid may be forced from the header12 into the chamber 14.

The invention is not limited to the particular details y disclosed, asnumerous changes may obviously be made without departing from the scopeof the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a liquid circulatory systemincluding an engine jacket, a condenser system, and means whereby thepressure of steam generated in the circulatory system is utilized toreturn the condensed fluid from the condenser system to the liquidcirculatory system.

2. In an internal combustion engine, a circulatory cooling systemassociated With said englne, a condensing system, and means forutilizing the pressure of the steam generated in said first named systemfor returning the condensed fluid in said condensing system to saidfirst named system.

3. In an internal combustionengine having a jacket for a cooling fluid,a cooling system associated with said engme, said system including aradiator for condensing the steam generated in said system, and meansfor utilizing the steam generated in said system, for moving thecondensed fluid from one portion of said system to another.

4. In a device of the class described, a liquid circulatory system, acondenser system, and means whereby steam at superatmospheric pressuregenerated in the circulatory system is utilized to return the condensedfluid from the condenser system to the liquid circulatory system. p

5. In an internal combustion engine, a circulatory cooling systemassociated with said engine, a condensing system, an auxiliary tankassociated with said coolmg system, means for utilizing the steamgenerated in said iirst named system for moving the condensed fiuid fromsaid condensing system to said auxiliary tank, and means for returningthe fiuid from said tank to said cooling system.

6. In an internal combustion engine, a circulatory cooling systemassociated with said-engine, a liquid and steam chamber at from saidcondensing system to said auxiliary tank, and means for returning the liuid from said tank to said chamber.

In an internalcombustion engine, a circulatory cooling system associatedwith vsaid engine, a condensing system having a collectinlT chamber forreceiving the condensed uid, said systems being closed, whereby t epressure of the steam therein is exerted upon the liquid in saidcollecting chamber, an auxiliary tank associated with said coolingsystem, a conduit for conducting liquid from said collecting chamber tosaid tank, and means for returning the liquid from saidv tank to saidcooling system.

8. In an internal combustion engine, a circulatory cooling systemassociated therewith, a condensing system, an auxiliary tank normallyopen to the atmosphere, means for utilizing the steam generated in saidcirculatory system to move the condensed liquid from said condensingsystem to sa'd tank, and means for returning the liquld from said tankto said circulatory system.

9. In an internal combustlon engine, a circulatory cooling systemtherefor having a liquid and steam chamber at its upper portion, acondensing system having a conduit extending into the vapor space ofsaid chamber, whereby steam may pass from said chamber intosaidcondensing system', a collecting chamber for receiving the condensedliquid, said systems being closed, whereby steam generated in saidcooling system will exert pressure upon the liquid in said collectingchamber, and means for conducting the liquid from said last namedchamber and eturning it to said liquid and steam chamer.l

10. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a circulatorycooling system therefor having a liquid and steam chamber at its upperportion, a condensing system having a ipe extending into the vapor spaceof said c amber, whereby steam may pass from said chamber into saidcondensing system, a collectino' chamber for receiving the condensedliqui an auxiliary tank associated with said first named chamber, afioat in said auxiliary tank, a conduit extending from the interior ofsaid auxiliary tank to the open air, a conduit extending from saidauxiliary tank into said first named chamber, valves controlled by saidfioatfor alternately opening and closing said conduits, said coolingsystem being closed, whereby steam generated therein will exert pressureupon 10 liquid, said systems being closed, whereby the pressure of thesteam therein is exerted s annales' 11561; the liquid 'in U saidcollecting chamber, an auxiliary tank associated with said coolingsystem, a conduit fiori' conducting liquid yfrom 'said collectingchamber to said tank, a ioat in said auxiliary -tank, means controlledby said iloatA for' causing the liquid collected in said auxiliary tankto be returned to said cooling systell.

Intestimony whereof I hereunto aix myV signature.

WELLINGTON W. Mum.

